Ceiling panel lifting device

ABSTRACT

A ceiling panel lifting device in which a ceiling panel supporting platform is raised and lowered by expansible and collapsible X-members. Novel means is used for initially exerting an upward thrust at the center pivot point for the X-members so that less power is required for raising the platform at the start of the lifting operation than is normally required. The device can be operated by a hand winch or by a motor.

United States Patent Zoller [54] CEILING PANEL LIFIING DEVICE [72] Inventor: John Zoller, 1997 Placer Drive, San

Leandro, Calif. 94578 22 Filed: March 9,1971 21 Appl.No.: 122,350

521 ms. c1. ..254/9 c 51 1m. 01. ..B60p H48 [58] Field of Search ..254/4, 8, 9, 122

[56] References Cited I UNITED STATES PATENTS I 2,468,230 4/1949 Pollard ..254/9 c 2,826,461 3/1958 Eliason ..254/8 0 2,830,854 4/1958 Cottar ..254/9 c [151 [451' Aug. 22', 1972 2,974,929 3/1961 Day ..254/4C Primary Examiner-Robert C. Riordon AssistantExaminer-David R. Melton Attorney-William R. Piper 5 7 ABSTRACT A ceiling panel lifting device in which a ceiling panel supporting platform is raised and lowered by expansible and collapsible X-members. Novel means is used for-initially exerting an upward thrust at the center pivot point for the X-members so that less power is required for raising the platform at the start of the lift ing operation than is normally required. The device can be operated by a hand winch or by a motor.

3 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures mmttnms zlm 3.685.798

' sum 1, or 2 INVENTOR. I JOHN ZOLLER BY A khmw I 72 4M ATTORNEY PKTENTEDmczz I972 SHEET 2 0F 2 INVENTOR. JOHN ZOLLER ATTORNEY CEILING PANEL ur'rmo DEVICE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention Ceiling panels generally are about four feet wide and eight feet long and are awkward to handle because of their size. A ceiling is usually about eight feet above the floor and this necessitates the use of a table on which two men stand while lifting into position a ceiling panel and then nailing it in place. With my ceiling panel lifting device the panel can be placed on the liftable platform while the latter is in its lowered position and then the lifting mechanism can be actuated for lifting the panel and holding it against the ceiling. The sides and ends of the panel project beyond the edges of the platform and it is a simple matter for the operator to secure the panel to the ceiling. The novel feature of the invention is to cause the lifting mechanism to exert a lifting force directly on the center pivot point for the X-members at the start of the lifting operation. This requires far less force 'to swing the X-members from almost a horizontal position, which they assume when the panelsupporting platform is in its lowermost position, into an upwardly inclined position during the initial operation of the lifting mechanism for raising the platform with its ceiling panel.

2. Description of the Prior Art The patent to Howard A. Pollard, U.S. Pat. No. 2,468,230, issued Apr. 26, 1949, discloses an elevator and support for ceiling and wall board. A lazy tong apparatus is shown and a drum is mounted at one of the side pivotal connections for the side rails. A cable extends from the drum to a sheave connected to the opposite side pivotal connection and then the cable extends back and is secured to the first-mentioned side pivotal connection. A rotation of the drum by a crank winds the cable on the drum and causes the cable to pull on the sheave to extend the lazy tongs and raise the plaster board to a ceiling for fastening thereto. There is no direct upward thrust on any one of the center pivot rods and thus the lifting force is partially dissipated due to the fact that the force of the pull of the cable on the sheave must be transmitted along a slightly inclined plane that parallels the portion of the inclined side rail extending from the sheave to the central pivot for the lazy tongs. The device is also subject to sidesway when extended because of the two sets of side rails pivotally connected together.

The patent to Robert Cottar, U.S. Pat. No. 2,830,854, issued Apr. 15, I958, illustrates a ceiling panel hoist. One of the side pivots for the lazy tongs has a downwardly extending thrust arm that is maintained in a substantially vertical position at all times regardless of whether the lazy tongs is collapsed or extended. The lifting cable for the lazy tongs extends from a drum that is supported at an elevated position above the floor and at one side of the lazy tongs. When the lazy tongs are collapsed, the cable extends downwardly from the drum and is passed under a roller that is carried by the lower end of the thrust arm so that the initial winding of the cable on the drum will exert an upward lifting force on the thrust arm. However, this lifting force must then be transmitted in an inclined plane that parallels the portion of the lever arm of the lazy tongs that extends from the thrust arm to the center pivot for the lazy tongs. The patentee shows no meansfor initially apply- SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of my invention is to provide a ceiling panel lifting device which has a pair of pivotally connected X-members that will raise a panel supporting platform from its lower position to its top position where it will hold a panel against a ceiling while the panel is being secured in place. A pair of X-members have their center pivots interconnected and novel means is used for applying a direct upward vertical force at the center pivots during the initial raising of the platform that is supported by these X-members. When the ceiling panel supporting platform is in its lowermost position, the pair of X-members are in their collapsed position and the members assume almost a horizontal position. It is a well known point in physics that if a horizontal pull is exerted at one end of a pair of X- members whose members, in their collapsed condition, extend only at a slight angle to the plane paralleling the line of pull, a great dealof force is required initially to swing the X-members toward an upwardly inclined position as they lift the panel-supporting platform. My novel means applys a direct vertical upward movement at the pivotal centers of the X-members during the initial raising of the plad'orm and a far less force is therefore required during this initial movement in swinging the members from a starting position where they form a slight angle to the horizontal into an upwardly inclined position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a side elevation of the device with its collapsed position being shown by dot-dash lines and its raised position being shown by full lines.

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the device when looking at the left hand side of FIG. 1, as indicated by the arrows 2-2 in FIG. 1. v

FIG. 3 is a side elevation of the opposite side of the device when looking at the right hand side of FIG. 1, as indicated by the arrows 33 in FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In carrying out my invention, I provide a movable frame, indicated generally at A in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3. v

This frame has two parallely arranged and spaced apart side rails B1 and B2, see especially FIGS. 2 and 3. The frame A is supported by legs 1 which in turn are mounted on casters 2.

A pair of X-members, indicated generally at C1 and C2, see FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, are mounted on the side rails B1 and B2 in such a manner that the X-member Cl will be supported by the side rail B1 and the X-member C2 will be supported by the other side rail B2. When referits raised or lowered position.

ring to FIGS. 1 and 2, it will be noted that the X- member C1 is composed of two elongated members 3 and 4 that have their midportions pivotally connected together by a cross rod 5. One end of the member 3 is pivotally connected at 6 to a clevis D, which in turn is secured to the side rail Bl. The other member 4 has its lower end provided with a wheel E that rides over the surface of the side railBl, see FIGS. 1 and 3.

. In like manner the X-mernber C2 is composed of two elongated members 7 and 8, see FIGS. 2 and 3, that have their midportions pivotally connected together by the samecross rod that pivotally connects the elongated members 3 and 4 together. The lower end of the member 7 is pivotally connected at 9 to a clevis F, which in tum is secured to the other side rail 82. The other elongated member 8 has its lower end provided same horizontal plane when'the x-mbe'rs c1 and c2 are collapsed and it would require considerable initial with awheel G that rides over the surface of the side rail B2. The wheels E and G are interconnected by a common cross rod 10, see-FIGS. 1 and 3.

' The upper'ends of the X-membersCl'and C2 support a ceiling panel carrying platform indicated generally at H, see FIGS. 1, 2 and 3. The platform is preferably rectangular in shape and it has a downwardly extending flange 11 on all four sides. The

' upper ends of the elongated members 3 and 7 of the X- rne'mbers C1 and C2 are .provided with. arc-shaped edges that slidably contact the undersurface of the platform'H, note the rounded arcuate portion 12 of the upper end of the member 3 in FIG. 1. The two upper ends of the members 3 and 7 are interconnected by a cross rod 13 and this cross rod does not extend through the side flanges of the platform H, see FIGS. 1 and 3. The two upper ends of the members 4 and 8'of the, X- members Cl and C2 have wheels J and K, respectively, connected thereto as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, and these wheels are interconnected by'a cross rod 14. The

wheels .I and K are free to roll along the undersurface of the platform H during the raising and lowering of the platform by a mechani m Presently tobe described. A rope 15 or other suitable flexible member has one end connected to the cross rod 14, see FIGS. 1 and 2 and its other end connected to the adjacent end flangefll of the platform H. This flexible member 15 limits the movement of the. wheels '.I and K away from the adjacent end of the platform. In this simple mannerthe platform remains substantially centered with respect to the 'X-members C1 and C2 whether the platform is in I will now describe the means for raising and lowering the platform H. A standard winch, indicated generally at L, in FIGS. 1 and 2, is mounted on the frame A and adjacent the ends of the side rails B1 and B2. The winch L includes a drum 16 and a crank 17. A

, cable 18 has one end wrapped around the drum and the otherv end is secured to the. outer end of the arm 19 that has its other end pivotally secured to the cross rod 10 that interconnects thewheels E and G of the X-members C1 and (32. A winding of the cable 18 on the drum 16 will pull on the arm 19 and cross rod 10 for moving the cross rod to the left in FIG. 1 from the dot-dash line position to the full line position. If the initial pull on the cross rod 10 were in a direct line from the cross rod to the cable,.i.e. in substantially a horizontal plane, it will be noted that considerable force would be required because the members 4 and 8 also lie almost in the force to swing the members 4 and 8 from their almost horizontal position into an upwardly inclined position.

I provide novel and simple means for preventing the their collapsed dot-dash line position shown in FIG. 1. I illustrate a downwardly extending arm 20 that has its upper end pivotally secured to the cross rod 5, see also FIGS. 2 and 3. The arm 20 lies in the same vertical 1 plane as the arm 19 and the length of the arm 20 is such that when the platform H is raised into its elevated position, as shown by the full lines in FIG. 1, the lower end of the arm would swing clear of .the arm 19 which at that moment would be lying in substantially a horizontal. plane, as-v shown in the same Figure. flexible member 21 has one end connected to the lower end of the arm 20 and has its other end connectedto the arm 19. at a point where thiswann 19' is pivotally connected tothecrossrod10.

When the platform H is in its lowered position, see

the dot-dash line position in FIG. 1, the X-members C1 and C2 are collapsed andt'he flexible member 21 has swung the arm 20 so that its lower end has contacted r the arm 19 and has swung it into a downwardly inclined position as shown by the dot-dash lines. The cable 18 i the cable is connected to the arm by the hook 22.

.From the foregoing description of the various parts OPERATION of the device, the operation thereof may be readily understood. Assume that the platforml-I. is in its lowered position and that it supports a ceiling panel M that is to be lifted to the ceiling preparatory to securing the panel to the ceiling; The operator either rotates the crank 17, or if a motor, not shown, is used, a switch, not shown,

would be closed 'forcausing the motor to rotate the drum 16 for winding the cable 18 thereon. FIG. 1 illustrates the standard winch as having a small gear rotated by the crank 17 and this small gear meshes with a large,

gear that rotates the drum 17. A catch, not shown, will prevent the drum from unwinding until the operator releases it.

The initial pull on the cable 18 during the winding of the cable on the drum 16, see FIG. 1, will pull on the outer end of the downwardly inclined 'arm 19. The cable 18 will swing the arm 19 clockwise about the cross rod 10 and the arm will immediately move the arm 20 in an upward direction for causing the latter arm to direct an upward push immediately. upon the central cross rod 5 of the two X-members C1 and C2. It will therefore be seen that a direct pull of the cable 18 in a direct line from the cross rod 10 to the drum 16 is obviated and a far less force is required to movethe X- members Cl and C2 for lifting the platform H and the ceiling panel M.

position toward a substantially horizontal position.

. Eventually the pull of the cable 18 on thearm 19 will extend the X-members C1 and C2 until the central cross rod 5 will lift the arm 20 clear of the arm 19, see

the full line position in FIG. 1. The platform H has been kept centered with respect to the X-members Cl and C2 by the flexible member that limits the rolling movement of the wheels J and K away from the adjacent end of the platform H. When the platform presses the ceiling panel against the ceiling it is possible to secure the panel to the ceiling because the ends and sides of the panel extend beyond the ends and sides of the supporting platform.

After the panel is secured to the ceiling, the operator rotates the crank 17 in the opposite direction for unwinding the cable from the drum. The weight of the platform H on the X-members Cl and C2 is sufi'icient to collapse these members. The central cross rod 5 as it lowers will lower the arm 20 that is suspended from it and the flexible member 21 will'swing the arm 20 so that its lower end will contact the arm 19, as clearly shown by the dot-dash lines in FIG. 1. The arm 20 will therefore cause the arm 19 to extend downwardly at an angle when the X-members are fully collapsed. The platform is now ready to receive another ceiling panel.

I claim:

l. A ceiling panel lifting device comprising:

a. a pair of spaced apart and parallel side rails;

b. an X-member associated with each side rail, each X-member consisting of two elongated members pivotally secured together substantially at their midpoints, one of the elongated members of each X-member having a lower end pivotally connected to its associate side rail, the other elongated member of each X-member having both of its upper and lower ends provided with a wheel, the wheel on the lower end being free to travel over the side rail associated with the X-member;

c. a ceiling panel carrying platform supported by the upper ends of both .X-members; and

means for moving both of said X-members from their collapsed position to an extended position for raising said platform; said means including;

e. a first cross rod extending between the two X- members and constituting the midpoint pivots for the two elongated members of each X-member;

f. a first arm depending from said cross rod;

g. a second cross rod extending between the wheels on the lower ends of said elongated members;

h. a second arm swingably mounted on said second cross rod and lying in the same plane as said first arm, the lower end of said first arm contacting said second arm when said X-members are in their collapsed position for causing saidsecond arm to extend downwardly at an angle;

i. a winch having a drum;

j. a cable windable around said drum and having its free end connected to the free end of said second arm so that the portion of the cable between said drum and said second arm will be inclined downwardly when the X-members are collapsed;

k. whereby a rotation of said drum for winding the cable thereon will cause said cable to pull upwardly on the free end of said second am for causing the latter to lift upwardly on said first arm and cause said first arm to apply a direct upward thrust on said first cross rod for expanding said X-memcollapsing of the X-members and the lowering of the panel carrying platform so that the lower end of said first arm will contact said second arm for swinging the latter into a downwardly inclined position when the X-members are collapsed.

3. The combination as set forth in claim 1: and in which a. the wheels on the upper ends of the elongated members will roll along the underside of the panel carrying platform as the latter is lifted by the X- members as they are moved into their extended position; andv a flexible member having one end operatively connected to the upper ends of the elongated members which have the wheels at their upper ends, the other end of said flexible member being connected to said panel carrying platform for limiting the movement of the wheels away from the adjacent end of said panel carrying platform during the lifting operation. 

1. A ceiling panel lifting device comprising: a. a pair of spaced apart and parallel side rails; b. an X-member associated with each side rail, each X-member consisting of two elongated members pivotally secured together substantially at their midpoints, one of the elongated members of each X-member having a lower end pivotally connected to its associate side rail, the other elongated member of each Xmember having both of its upper and lower ends provided with a wheel, the wheel on the lower end bEing free to travel over the side rail associated with the X-member; c. a ceiling panel carrying platform supported by the upper ends of both X-members; and d. means for moving both of said X-members from their collapsed position to an extended position for raising said platform; said means including; e. a first cross rod extending between the two X-members and constituting the midpoint pivots for the two elongated members of each X-member; f. a first arm depending from said cross rod; g. a second cross rod extending between the wheels on the lower ends of said elongated members; h. a second arm swingably mounted on said second cross rod and lying in the same plane as said first arm, the lower end of said first arm contacting said second arm when said X-members are in their collapsed position for causing said second arm to extend downwardly at an angle; i. a winch having a drum; j. a cable windable around said drum and having its free end connected to the free end of said second arm so that the portion of the cable between said drum and said second arm will be inclined downwardly when the X-members are collapsed; k. whereby a rotation of said drum for winding the cable thereon will cause said cable to pull upwardly on the free end of said second arm for causing the latter to lift upwardly on said first arm and cause said first arm to apply a direct upward thrust on said first cross rod for expanding said X-members from their collapsed position and for lifting said panel carrying platform.
 2. The combination as set forth in claim 1: and in which a. a flexible member is connected to both arms for the purpose of guiding said first arm during the collapsing of the X-members and the lowering of the panel carrying platform so that the lower end of said first arm will contact said second arm for swinging the latter into a downwardly inclined position when the X-members are collapsed.
 3. The combination as set forth in claim 1: and in which a. the wheels on the upper ends of the elongated members will roll along the underside of the panel carrying platform as the latter is lifted by the X-members as they are moved into their extended position; and b. a flexible member having one end operatively connected to the upper ends of the elongated members which have the wheels at their upper ends, the other end of said flexible member being connected to said panel carrying platform for limiting the movement of the wheels away from the adjacent end of said panel carrying platform during the lifting operation. 